Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has proven her integrity before the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) even without filing her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) in 2012, one of her spokespersons said on Tuesday.
According to lawyer Jose Deinla, the Chief Justice had satisfied the JBC’s application requirements with the submission of other documents aside from the 2012 SALN.
Deinla added that the SALN was not included in the required documents being asked by the JBC from those who were applying for the position of chief magistrate
“Kung susuriin natin yung evidence ng integrity noong 2012, hindi kasama ang SALN dito sa mga clearances and certificates na kanilang (JBC) ni-re-require sa mga aplikante,” Deinla said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990 AM.
“Ibig sabihin, sila (JBC) ay satisfied na na-demonstrate ni Chief Justice sa ibang pamamaraaan, sa pamamagitan ng mga dokumentong iyon ang kanyang integridad,” she added.
Solicitor General Jose Calida earlier filed a quo warranto petition in the Supreme Court to seek Sereno’s ouster from the Supreme Court.
Calida said Sereno had failed to prove her integrity as an applicant for the top position of the judiciary after she had failed to submit her SALN.
“We are asking [Sereno], ‘By what authority is she holding the position of Chief Justice?’ She violated the constitutional requirements for eligibility,” Calida said. /muf
READ: SolGen asks SC: Kick out Sereno